Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-01-20

struggled back to US through the wa
. ter, and it was your milk. that KEEP
! as alive. Everything depended the,
on your strength. We called ou
baby after you and when the poo
little one died it cut me crueily-cru
ely. L can never forgive this day.
work. Be brave. Miss Anna, b,
brave" and. putting his cheek OF
"Miss Anna's" head. the tears fairly
rolled out of bis eyes.
/ He stopped minute drawing in
his breath in short quick little sobs
and threw out both hands with a for.
lorn gesture of abandonment.
"Oh, great God, was so lonely
when wife and babies all were dead,
and | loved Miss Anna then; I love
her now as the one relic left me OF
that beautiful vanished past Then
the war came, and l tried to leave
you, thinking it would be best, but
you followed me to be ridicuied, des-
pissed and even tortured. All the
conduct of the last week breaks over
me and / see what blind fool have
been."
Parsons, you are to go on picket
duty tonight, and you had better
start now" called in the voice of our
Lieutenant. The men now thoroughly
ashamed of themselves, came nearer,
and were about to offer some words
of apology, but Parsons turned away
and, delivering ''Miss Anna" over to
ofPhee, said pleadingly: "If any
thing should happen to me, you will
take care of her p
Orphees eyes filled with tears as
he pressed the extended hand. With
out another word or look, Parsons
strode out into the dark.
Were brutes-cowardly brutes,"
said our Virginian disgustedly.
Il would rather face million Yam
KEGS than hear that mans story told
in that voice again" said another.
That night was a weary one. We
could not forget the solemn figure;
the dark, patient face; the broken,
harsh. tender voice, and the pines
above and the river far away seemed
to mingle their grief at our coward
ice and brutality Meanwhile "Miss
Anna" slept peacefully on the best
blanket of the mess, while we lay
there speechless, thoughtful, unhappy,
even the greater issue of the war mo-
mehtarily forgotten.
With the dawn came action. The
Yankees were upon US and We fought
like wildcats. As evening came on
the fight was suspended, and when
our mess met every body was there,
Miss Anna" included, except Par
sons. We had made up a scheme to
beg his forgiveness and swear to be
gentlemen, at least. Each of US had
q separate speech OF apology to make,
expressive of shame and contrition.
When night settled down and Par
sons did not appear, we grew anxious
and sa; silently around, not daring to
breathe the great fear uppermost in
our minds. Miss Anna, too, walk
ed up and down uneasily shifting the
air and rubbing her nose against any
convenient shoulder. As we sat thus
our Lieutenant called in 10 me
Harrison, step here minute T. !
arose and went out little unsteadily.
Parsons was hurt on guard last night
and has asked to see you. Go now
there isn't much time, I'm afraid"
He turned to lead the way.
May / tell them ?" I asked.
No use," be answered shortly, as
orphee's stricken face appeared in
the doorway.
Well, I followed him to the rude
hut selected for eur hospital. It was
lighted with torches, and the surgeons
were busy with the men who had fall
en- in that days fight. In the farthest
corner of the room lay Parsons.
knelt down by him and took his hand
He smiled family reassuringly, and
whispered: "It's not so hard-it wa:
so quick, you know-just fash, a
burn aud then a dull pain. Only !
lay there so long. Harrison, that
thought everything very clearly out
ami am sorry. How could those fe!
>lows know? am afraid | lost m,
temper. am such devil of a fel
low when | lose my temper" he said
paihcticAlly, land, Harrison, bel
your pardon, old fsllow-but Mis-
Anna2' His eyes spologizei anpl!
ior his inquiry, and | went in search
of the men and their charge. The!
J followed me eagerly, aud we uucon
} seiously fell into a procession anc
moved through the door with Mis-